Cancer Concern

The number of cancer patients in China rose to about 4.3 million in 2015, up from 3.4 million in 2011, according to the Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Report. This figure includes about 733,300 patients suffering from lung cancer, the most lethal type of cancer in China. There are 320,000 more cancer patients in cities than in rural areas, which is in line with the fact that 56 percent of the Chinese population is urban. In 2015, 2.8 million people in China died from cancer, placing the country’s death rate 20 percent above the global average. In China, less than 20 percent of patients have a genetic predisposition for cancer, but, in the vast majority of patients, cancer is caused by external and lifestyle factors, according to China’s National Cancer Registry Center. Experts warn that the general public is not aware that early detection can lead to more effective treatment, and many patients eschew regular medical checkups. The lack of a comprehensive insurance system and inadequate medical services are also to blame for China’s high cancer death rate.